World Health Organization Confronts Major Workforce Cuts Following US Funding Withdrawal
The global health organization revealed intentions to reduce its staff by nearly a fourth – amounting to more than 2,000 jobs – by mid-2026.
Financial Crisis Prompts Major Restructuring
This move follows after the US, formerly the organization's biggest donor, pulled out funding previously this year.
The US government was contributing about eighteen percent of the agency's overall budget, creating a significant financial shortfall.
Expected Staff Cuts
According to internal projections, the staff will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one posts in January 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
This reduction of 2,371 posts includes staff reductions, retirements, and regular departures.
"The past year has been one of the most difficult in our existence, while we have navigated a painful but necessary process of prioritization and restructuring," commented the agency's director-general.
Budget Shortfall Remains
The Switzerland-headquartered organization currently confronts a funding shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, representing nearly a quarter of its required funding.
The figure marks an reduction from a prior estimated shortfall of $1.7bn noted in spring.
Excluded Funding
The budget projections do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in expected contributions from ongoing discussions with various contributors.
The representative for the organization stated that the present unsecured portion of the biennial budget is actually lower than in previous periods, attributing this to multiple reasons:
- Reduced overall budget
- The launch of a fresh donor outreach effort
- Higher in participating countries' required fees
The realignment initiative is currently nearing its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a reshaped operational model.